3t> 
Plymouth ss, October 2, 1817. The above named Elkanah 
Finney appeared and made oath to the truth of the foregoing 
statement, by him subscribed, before me, 
Nathaniel M. Davis, Jus. Peace. 
\ 
XIX. 
Bath, September 17 , 181 7 . 
Dear Sir, 
Supposing the interests of natural science may be promoted, 
and some light thrown on a subject, which receives, as it deserves, 
much attention ; and understanding lately from Dr. Vaughan 
of Hallowell, and Mr. Professor Farrar of Cambridge, that 
the Linnxan Society is prosecuting researches respecting it, I 
make no other apology for communicating to you the following 
statements in reference to the Sea Serpent of our coasts. 
They consist of extracts from some MS. Notes on the Dis¬ 
trict of Maine, which I have been in the habit of making ever 
since I have resided in the country, and I shall transcribe liter¬ 
ally, in order to communicate with greater accuracy. 
“ June 28th, 1809. The Rev. Mr. Abraham Cummings,” 
who has been much employed in Missions in the District of 
Maine, and navigated his own boat among the islands, &c. in the 
discharge of his duty, “ informs me,” in conversation, which was 
immediately written from his lips, “ that in Penobscot bay has 
been occasionally seen within these thirty years, a Sea Serpent, sup¬ 
posed to be about sixty feet in length, and of the size of a sloop’s 
mast. Rev. Mr Cummings saw him, in company with his wife 
and daughter, and a young lady of Belfast, Martha Spring ; and 
judged he was about three times the length of his boat, which is 
twenty three feet. When he was seen this time he appeared not 
to notice the boat, though he was distant, as nearly as could be as¬ 
certained, but about fifteen rods. Mr. Cummings observes, that 
the British saw him in their expedition to Bagaduse ; that the in¬ 
habitants of Fox and Long islands have seen such an animal, and 
that a Mr. Crocket saw two of them together about twenty two 
